Jesuit Church, Vienna

The Jesuit Church was built between 1623 and 1627 on the site of an earlier chapel, at the time when the Jesuits merged their own college with the University of Vienna's philosophy and theology faculty. The emperor broke ground for both college and church, with the church itself dedicated to Saints Ignatius Loyola and Francis Xavier. In 1703, Brother Andrea Pozzo, S.J., an architect, painter, and sculptor, and a master in the quadratura, was requested by Emperor Leopold I to redecorate the church. He added twin towers and reworked the façade in an early Baroque style with narrow horizontal and vertical sections. The design of the windows, narrow niches (with statues), and the small central part of the façade deviate from the Baroque style of the towers. Pozzo died unexpectedly in 1709, just before he was to move to Venice, and was buried in the church. After the completion of the work, the church was re-dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. == Interior ==

Despite its relatively austere exterior, the interior is remarkably opulent with ersatz marble pillars, gilding and a number of allegorical ceiling frescoes. The semicircular vault ceiling was divided in four bays with paintings in perspective, using illusionary techniques. Executed by Andrea Pozzo in 1703, the remarkable ''trompe-l'œil'' dome, painted on a flat part of the ceiling, is a masterpiece. Wien - Jesuitenkirche, Innenansicht.JPG|Interior of Jesuit Church Wien - Jesuitenkirche, Orgelempore.JPG|Organ loft AT 119587 Jesuitenkirche Wien Innenansicht 9234.jpg|Fresco with ''trompe-l'œil'' dome by Andrea Pozzo Jesuitenkirche_Vienna1.jpg|Ceiling view from the entrance Jesuitenkirche(Universitätskirche), Vienna (interior).JPG|General view of interior Jesuitenkirche(Universitätskirche), Vienna (interior detail).JPG|Interior detail with organ Immediately adjacent is the Aula (great hall) of the Vienna's university, where Beethoven's Seventh Symphony had its premiere. ==See also==